Time-controlled switch



Jan. 12, 1932. R PUDELKQ 1,841,151

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Fi}ed Feb. 28, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12, R PUDELKO 1,841,151

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m NTo ATTOR Y' Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE RrccAn i PUDELKO,

0F ZUG, SWITZERLA NJj, ASSIGNOB TO LANDIS 8: GYR, A.-G., A

-J OIN '1 STOCK COMPANY OF SWITZERLAND TIME-CONTROLLED SWITCH Application filed February 28, 1929, Serial No. 343,507, and in Switzerland March 1, 1928.

This invention relates to a novel and useful switch and more particularlyto a switch for opening and closing several electrical circuits at different times, the Operation of the switch being controlled by suitable clock mechanism.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafterand in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learnedby practice withthe invention, the same beingrealized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction and arrangements, combina tions and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a switch and controlling mechanism accordin to the present invention.

*ig- 2. is an elevation, partly diagrammatic,showingthe switch in open position and 1 Figs. 3 and 4 are plansshowing a'switch according to the present invention in'two dif ferent positions. i f r V Figure 5 is a section showing a modified embodiment of the invention, and corresponding to Figure '1. Y I

Figure 6 is. a plan view .correspon'dingto Figure 4, but showing themodificationof the invention. i

Figure 7 is a detail plan of the switch erating bar of the modifiedembodiment.

The present invention is directed to a switch for controlling a plurality of electrical circuits and for closing and opening these circuits at difi'erent times, the operatlon being automatically repeated at predetermined and variable intervals so that. the several circuits can remain closed and open for several difierent lengths of time. i

Briefly, the present invention in its preferred embodiment comprises an insulating block on which are supported a series of fixed contacts lying indifi'erent planes, anda corresponding series of movable contacts coactring therewith to open and close the respective tion of the power device is controlled by suitable clock mechanism whereby the closing and opening of the several circuits is caused to occur at different, predeterminedand variable times. In certain cases, it is found desirable to provide the movable member which moves the movable contacts with projecti'ons of varying length, instead of placing the contacts in several planes, the movable member engages contacts at different positions, operation at different times.

The present invention provides a switch, especially adapted for use with relatively heavy currents, such as street lighting currents and enables the power consuming devices to be controlled in two separate circuits by a simple, sturdy and relatively inexpensive apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the present'preferred embodiment of the invention as illusand thereby the movable trated by the accompanying drawings:

' A supporting'panel or block of insulating material 10 is provided on which fixed coni tacts 12 are supported by rearwardly extending threaded members 13 to which the necessary connections can be made. Panel 10 is also provided with a corresponding series of holes and grooves 14 arranged directly beneath the'upper, row of contacts, and in these grooves are supported spring members 15 carrying contacts 16 at their outer ends. These spring members are retained in their respective grooves by means of bolts 18 passing through corresponding holes in the springs 15 and panel 10, and. threaded at their rearward causing their i end so that the necessary connections can be easily made therewith. The springs 15 are so adjusted that they normally tend to maintain each movable contact 16 against the corresponding fixed contact 12 thereby maintaining the corresponding circuit closed.

F or moving the movable contacts to open all the circuits, by moving each movable contact away from its corresponding fixed con tact, there is provided a bar 20 covered by tube of insulating material 21, which insulating tube is movable to engage the spring supports for the movable contacts 16 and moves them away from their corresponding fixed contacts. Preferably, and as here shown, bar 20 has a supporting side member 22 formed at each end and integral with bar 20 and these side members 22 are pivotally mounted on the insulating panel 10 by means of pin 23 extending between the bifurcations of a slotted head 21 at one end of the insulating panel and by pin 26 supported by end frame bracket 27 and attached thereto by suitable screws. One of the side members 22 is provided with an extending arm 28 to which the operating link or connecting rod 29 is pivotally attached so that the bar 20 can be operated by separate mechanism, later described.

T 0 give greater rigidity to the bar 20 and cause both its ends to be moved an equal amount, a relatively heavy cross piece 31 extends between the bottom of the side members 22, and is secured to these members by rivets or other suitable securing means.

The fixed contacts 12 are preferably of several different lengths, and as shown in the drawings, there may be provided an equal number of contacts of each of two lengths, although this detail is obviously not essential and the contacts may be made of three or four different lengths, or each contact may lie in a plane different from that of the remainder. By reason of the fact that the con tacts do not lie in a single plane, the bar 20 does not engage and move all the contacts 16 at a single time, and each of the several positions of the bar 20 causes a different set of the contacts to be moved, opening different circuits. In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4-, alternate circuits are opened by movement of the bar 20 to its first position, as shown in Figure 4, and on further movement of the bar, the rem aining circuits will be opened.

For biasing the bar 20 so as to tend to hold it in position to maintain the individual circuits closed or opened, there is provided a coiled spring 33 connected to the arm 28. and also connected to bracket 27 supported on the insulating panel. This spring 33 can be either a. compression or a tension sprin depending on which of the two positions it desired to have the bar normally assume.

If desired, and, in accordance with the modified embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6

and 7, the contacts may be in the same plane and fixed contacts 12 are of uniform length. When so formed, the sequential operation of several switches is effected by employing an insulating tube 21 having projections 50 thereon to engage certain of the movable contact supporting sprin 's .15 to move the corresponding contacts 16. In this modification, as the bar 21 is moved the projections 50 on the bar are the first to engage and move the springs 15 and the corresponding contacts 16, and after these contacts have been moved to circuit opening position, the next series of contacts 16 will. be moved by engagement with the main portion of the bar 21. The remain der of the modified embodiment is substantially the same as the preferred embodiment.

While the switch shown in the drawings is capable of being operated manually, it is preferably employed in combination with clock mechanism, whereby the several switching operations can be made to occur at predetermined and variable intervals. In the present embodiment, there is provided, for this aurpose, a rotatable disc 35, mounted on shaft 36, to which disc connecting rod or link 29 is fastened by pin 37. Disc also carries a single projection or nose 38 which, on retation of the disc, engages with and is held against further rotation by stops -10. These steps are preferably made in the form of halfround bars, rotatably supported in suitable bearings, not shown, and so positioned with respect to the nose 38 of the disc that they can be turned to release the projection of the disc and allow the disc 35 to rotate further. These half-round bars or stops 40, 40 and 40 are provided with fingers 41, 11 and 41", respectively, projecting into the path of one of the pins l2, 42 and 12 carried by the day disc 44- of the time-controlled mechanism, and the lingers are preferably so positioned that they are engaged and moved by only one of the pins 42, 412, 42 on the day disc of the clock. No details of the clock construction are shown and it may be of the usual Landis & Gyr or other type. Iiy changing the position of these several pins on the day-disc 44 the time at which the disc is released from each of its positions can be varied as desired. For turning the disc 35 to each of its several positions, and for furnishing the necessary power to cause the desired movement of the switch operating bar 20, there is provided a drum, mounted on shaft 36 with disc 35, around which drum is wound a cord 45 to which the weight 46 is attached.

The operation of the above-described mechanism may be conveniently summarized as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown by Figure 1, pin 12 mounted on the day-disc 44 is. advanced and moves finger 41 to turn the stop 40 and release the projection on disc 38'so that the disc 35 can turn under the influence of weight. 46. As the disc turns, connecting rod 29 is pushed downwardly and moves the insulated bar 20 into contact with those spring supported contacts 16 lying in the first plane, the turning of the disc and the movement of the connecting rod being stopped when projection 38 comes against stop 40. As the day disc rotates still further the next pin 42 engages finger 41 which allows disc 38 to turn another ste moves insulated bar 20 to open the remainder of the circuits. Further rotation of the day- 7,

disc releases the projection on disc 35 and allows the weight to drop and raise the connecting rod 29, whereby all circuits are closed by the single operation. On further rotation of the disc, the cycle of operations is repeated. r

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanism shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. A switch including in combination a plu- V I rality of stationary contacts, a plurality of movable contacts, spring members supporting the movable contacts and moving them into contact with the stationary contacts, a bar of insulating material to movethe movable contacts against the resiliency of the springs, a pivotal mounting for said bar, and spring means to move the bar to circuit closing position.

- 2. A switch including in combination a plurality of stationary contacts arranged in a plurality of planes, a plurality of movable contacts, spring members supporting the movable contacts and tending to hold them in contact with the stationary contacts, a bar of insulating material pivoted adj acent'to the spring members and cooperating therewith to move the movable contacts, and spring means for moving the bar out of contact with the spring members while the fixed and movable contacts are in contact.

3. A switch including in combination a set of fixed contacts lying in a single plane, a set of movable contacts, spring members supporting the movable contacts and tending to hold them in contact with the stationary contacts, a bar of insulating material pivoted adjacent to the spring members and provided with projecting portions corresponding to certain of the spring members to open predetermined circuits at a different time than the remaining circuits, and spring means for moving the bar out of contact with the spring members while the circuits are closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RICCARD' PUDELKO.

and, 

